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Baltimore City Code div. Health Code, tit. 5, subtit. 7

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-701 Responsibility of persons in charge.

§ 5-701. Responsibility of persons in charge. Every person in charge of any property is obligated, jointly and severally, to comply with the requirements of this subtitle. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-702 Cutting grass, weeds, etc., required.

§ 5-702. Cutting grass, weeds, etc., required. No person in charge of any land may allow: (1) any grass, weeds, or other rank vegetation on that land to reach a height of 8 inches or more; or (2) any grass, weeds, or other rank vegetation on an abutting sidewalk, gutter, or alley to reach a height of 4 inches or more. (Ord. 15-427; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-703 Destroying noxious weeds, etc., required.

§ 5-703. Destroying noxious weeds, etc., required. (a) In general. Every person in charge of any land must keep that land free from ragweeds, wild mustard, wild lettuce, wild parsley, common thistle, milkweed, poison ivy, and all other noxious weeds. (b) Permitted methods. The person in charge must destroy any noxious weeds on the land by: (1) spraying with a chemical compound approved by and applied in accordance with the requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; (2) cutting and removal; (3) digging under; or (4) any other method that the Commissioner approves. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-704 Notice to person in charge.

§ 5-704. Notice to person in charge. Whenever the Commissioner of Health discovers a violation of this subtitle, the Commissioner may issue a written notice to the person in charge, as provided in Subtitle 2 {“Nuisance Abatement — Generally”} of this title. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-705 Abatement by Public Works.

§ 5-705. Abatement by Public Works. (a) In general. (1) If the condition is not corrected within 10 days of the notice, the Commissioner may notify the Director of Public Works, who must proceed to correct the condition at the expense of the person in charge. (2) Grass, weeds, and other rank vegetation must be cut to a height of not more than 3 inches. (b) Costs and expenses. All costs and expenses incurred by the Director of Public Works are a lien on the property as provided in Subtitle 2 {“Nuisance Abatement — Generally”} of this title. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, §§ 5-706 to 5-707 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-708 Enforcement by citation.

§ 5-708. Enforcement by citation. (a) In general. In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, this subtitle may be enforced by issuance of an environmental citation as authorized by City Code Article 1, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}. (b) Process not exclusive. The issuance of an environmental citation to enforce this subtitle does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-709 Penalties.

§ 5-709. Penalties. (a) In general. Any person who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to the penalties specified in this section. (b) Basic penalty: $500. Except as specified in subsection (c) of this section, the penalty for a violation is a fine of not more than $500 for each offense. (c) Violation after notice: $1,000. For a person who receives a notice under §5-704 {“Notice to person in charge”} of this subtitle and fails to comply with that notice, the penalty is a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense. (Ord. 99-548.)

Source: City of Baltimore Department of Legislative Reference, City of Baltimore Law Library (codes.baltimorecity.gov; Open Law Library bulk XML)URL: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/health/5/7Fetched: 10/25/2026